1001 Nights In Their Garden

The First Night- Spinel's Treasure

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My name is Steven Universe, and I am 19 years old. I finally thought I had put my mother's demons to rest. Now I am trapped in a decaying garden with an insane pink gem who will destroy the Earth if I don't keep her entertained.

So much for happily ever after…

As I stared at the very real spear just inches from my face, I began to regret having watched all those adventure movies the day before. Pearl herself had become quite the fan after she became tired of all those poorly dubbed kung-foo movies.

You know those adventure movies, the ones with the professor who goes hunting for strange artifacts in unknown regions of the world with his trusty whip and instincts. It was clear from the khaki that I was wearing that I was going to pay very dearly for binging them all the previous night.

"Mr. Universe," she said, "You have made a mess of my plans for the last time?"

"Heard those words before you old bat," was my reply. Stars, did I just say that?

Some of the Jasper guards started to laugh. The pearl took it personally, and looked like a tea pot about to whistle. "Guards, bring out the prisoner!"

Spinel laughed, "Good one Pink that'll teach'er good."

I muttered, "Spinel, the ropes, think you…" She looked me in the eye and nodded.

One of the Jaspers, a particularly mean looking one with marble skin pulled a bag out of a nearby truck. It squirmed like a caught fish. She tossed it to the ground where it landed with a soft thud.

Pearl twirled her spear and with a swift strike, cut the bag open. A Peridot emerged from it, furious.

"You miserable clods, just who the devil do you think you are, I'm the director of antiquities for this whole kingdom, I have PhD's in archaeology, ethnology…!" She started to look around, then her heart sunk when she looked me in the eyes. "Steven…" Sinking to her knees her immaculate, albeit wrinkled dress was splashed in mud.

Pearl smiled, "I did so enjoy our conversation director, why don't you tell the good man and…" She eyed Spinel with scorn, "his little plaything". What you told me about his research.

The Peridot looked at me again, clearly grieved. She spilled everything. Meanwhile, the ropes started to become loose.

"Steven found an amulet that had been mistakenly shipped to the university he is a freshman at. Not being one to miss a chance he spent hours studying the script. That's when he started to consult me in secret, too afraid that what he was searching for would fall into the wrong hands."

The Pearl lifted her spear, "Yes, I am aware as is he, now get to the point."

Peridot looked at me again, then smiled slightly as I winked. She had gotten the hint. Suddenly, she stood up and was far more animated. "His analysis and interpretation was quite impressive. We knew of course from the works of other acclaimed individuals and from my own published works that our gem creators had a knack for double meanings, but he was the first to suggest that the center of the gem, a common symbol…" An act but an impressive one.

The ropes fell to the ground, and Spinel and I dashed off. Unfortunately for poor Peridot, the last thing we heard was a "poof" as we got away. We were both lucky that Jasper are big, bulky, and not that bright. As luck would have it, neither were we.

Paths in front of us seemed to crisscross. The sound of motorized vehicles and spinning tires filled the air. Along with loud swearing.

Spinel scratched her chin in puzzlement, as I stopped to catch my breath, "Why aren't they moving?"

I grabbed her hand and dragged her along, "This isn't a road, it's a river bed."

There was a different sort of rumbling from above. I continued, "and that is a warning, we've gotta get to the base of this hill before, you know."

"Are all of your adventures so deadly?"

I ignored her as we neared a steep cliff. There was a loud peal of thunder, and then Pearl shouted, "Mr. Universe, you know what all this means don't you. This entire valley is going to flood! Come now, be reasonable and come back here."

I slowly helped Spinel down to the first footing. It was then that I made the eternal mistake of looking down. She looked up at me, hopefully. I whispered to her, "Spinel, you'll be safer here, wait until I start talking to pearl then," she didn't let me finish.

"N-n-no, I won't, don't go, I-was." Tears rolled down her cheeks profusely. Why did she pick now of all times to break down on me?

Pearl was closer now, "Oh Mr. Universe, I don't have all day, see reason will you?"

"Spinel," I continued," I couldn't bear anything happening to you. Not when we're so close to the treasure."

Spinel still held on, "Haven't you figured it out the real treasure is," she never got to finish. The rain started to pour from the sky in a wave that seemed to swallow up every thing in site. My companion stretched herself around me as we began to plummet down the steep embankment.

I could feel the force of gravity about to send me hurtling into the deep oblivion of a canyon below. Normally I'd float, what did she do to my powers. That's when, suddenly…

-Back in the garden-

I let out an immense yawn, as I came too. I felt a shake all over my body, and opening my eyes brought me face to face with my captor.

She was angry as ever, "Well then what happened? Comon' don't end it there!"

I smiled weakly, "I'm still half human, I can't keep this up without sleep." She relented and started to pace around.

Soon I drifted off to sleep. Just before I closed my eyes… did I see a single flower bloom?

Next Time- Spinel's Treasure Part 2

Author's Note:

This particular story is my love letter to the Indiana Jones franchise. Thanks for reading! Please feel free to leave a review.